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By Carrie Carter, M.D.
 Have you ever had a Christmas when you worked yourself into such frenzy that no one enjoyed it? “Holiday magic” does not mean that come late November you “magically” have more hours in the day and less responsibilities so you can absorb all the extra work that comes with the holidays. You still are a full-time parent, and have all the usual duties of your life. And you were already overloaded! But the holidays drive us to extraordinary lengths, and often leave us suffering from extraordinary stress.
Stress is not only uncomfortable, it can be damaging to your health. Every mom I know already lives with more stress than ever; the last thing your physical and mental health needs is a stressful holiday season! Emotional stress causes the release of hormones in your body called epinephrine or adrenaline, and cortisol. When released chronically these chemicals can be destructive to your body. Therefore, you need to do what you can do to prevent holiday stress, and know what to do with the stress that you cannot prevent.
When the relatives arrive and all is a frenzy, the things that could go wrong do go wrong. Your two-year-old gets an ear infection on Christmas Eve, and your dog eats the box of candy from Aunt Edna and gets sick from the chocolate… now what?
First, consider what matters most this holiday season.
Second, make the best of the situation and adjust your expectations accordingly.
Third, try one or more of these emergency rapid stress reducers:
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- Exercise for five minutes. This helps your body clear these damaging stress hormones from your system. Any type of exercise that you like or can do will help. Take a brisk walk around the block, do jumping jacks in your bedroom, or have everyone dance in the living room to Christmas music. It will help the whole crowd!
- Walk outside for a few minutes. It is harder to do when it’s twenty below, but a few minutes away can break the tension.
- Take a hot shower or hot bath. Plan ahead. It is more relaxing and effective if your preschooler is occupied elsewhere and not banging on the door, yelling, “Mo-MMMY!”
- Find a moment of quiet for meditation, Bible study, or prayer. Grab five minutes every day, even if it’s while you’re in the bathroom.
- Do some relaxation deep breaths.
- The 10-20 minute nap. Sleep can deeply refresh you when your energy is running low.
- Find the laughter. Try to find something funny in your surroundings. Tell jokes, or watch a funny movie or show as a family. Play a fun game together. Find joy in the midst of the stress and you cancel some of the bad effects.
- Live in the moment as much as possible. No matter how “wrong” things go, there is something to cherish about each moment with your loved ones.
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Too many of us come to our “holiday stress crossroads” too late to make that season more bearable. At the end of this year’s holiday festivities, evaluate and write down what you would like to be different next year. Be as specific as possible.
Remember that decreasing your holiday stress is not only important for your health, but also the health of everyone in your family. Plus, you want to teach a healthy approach to the holidays to your children, and you will if you set a good example. The time to start is now!
I wish you blessed, low-stress holidays, full of all that really matters to you!
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Dr. Carrie Carter is a mother and national speaker on health issues. She served as a pediatrician for more than 10 years in San Diego, California, has been a regular contributer to MOMSense magazine and wrote Mom's Health Matters.
The information in this article is only a guide. Please talk with your physician about any health concerns and before you start taking any medications. |
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